The Right Way

When you get promoted to Premier League from the Championship, how do you stay in English football’s top flight? Is there a right way to do this?

Last season, both Cardiff City and Fulham were relegated at the first time of asking. Fulham spent big in the summer, over £100 million, but flopped dramatically and finished a woeful 10 points adrift. They were only saved from 20th in the table by a dismal Huddersfield side.

Cardiff, meanwhile, finished in 18th and just two points away from safety. Many had predicted they would finish rock bottom and while the Bluebirds were still relegated, they generally exceeded expectations in terms of their final position.

Fulham ripped up their team blue print, splashed out the cash and brought in big names such as Andre Schurrle. Cardiff, on the other hand, stuck to their guns and played the kind of football that they knew were good at - a more physical game under Neil Warnock.

They were still relegated, but their final league position was higher than most had guessed at the start of the season. Warnock did what he did best, and he wasn’t too far from keeping the Bluebirds in the Premier League.

The key here? Continuity, and doing what you know you’re good at. It is something this year’s crop of Premier League newcomers have certainly gotten to grips with.

Norwich claimed the Championship title last season with elegant passing and attacking football. This year, they are doing the same in the Premier League, with largely the same personnel who all slotted into place perfectly last season - led by Teemu Pukki up front.

It may sometimes leave them open at the back and they may take a couple of heavy beatings against bigger sides, but they look highly capable of beating sides in the lower half of the table. That much was shown by their sweeping 3-1 victory against Newcastle.

Sheffield United have continued their startling habit of having overlapping centre backs, with their wing backs shifting into surprising central positions. They too have had a promising start to the season.

Chris Wilder saw his side shift line up in a nominally more defensive 3-5-2 this season as oppose to last year’s 3-4-1-2, although the introduction of Luke Freeman recently has given the Blades a more cutting attacking edge. There has been a slight shift towards being more ‘solid’, although this has done little to take away from United’s overall style.

Aston Villa took a couple more games to adjust, but have begun to settle nicely into the Premier League. They too have altered their style slightly by replacing the agile Tammy Abraham with Wesley Moraes at centre forward. The Brazilian errs more towards being a target man.

But the Villains’ 4-3-3 is still present. There is arguably a more counter-attacking edge to them than previously, but it’s not exactly a bunker down the hatches 4-4-2 approach.

Villa have had a large turnover in summer like Fulham, with spending also in excess of £100 million. But unlike the Cottagers, There has been a continuity in style and a stronger sense of direction over which players to recruit. They may have arguably over-paid for the likes of Tyrone Mings, but they got their man in the position they wanted.

Norwich recruited most modestly out of the three promoted sides, and so far Daniel Farke’s faith in his current crop seems to be paying off. He hasn’t tried to second guess his side’s ability to cope in the Premier League, and there will be a chance in January to plug any gaps that do appear.

Wilder has been more active than Farke, with Sheffield United making a number of summer signings. They have broken their transfer record four times this summer, although their previous record stood at just £4.5 million for James Beattie in 2007.

Their recruitment was targeted, with the additions of forwards Callum Robinson, Lys Mousset and Oli McBurnie boosting the frontline. Two attacking midfielders were recruited as well with Luke Freeman and the enigma that is Ravel Marrison both arriving.

Each manager - Wilder, Farke and Dean Smith - has gone about their business in different ways, but their is still a common theme. It is that of continuity and a fundamental understanding of what they did well to get themselves to the Premier League in the first place.

It’s still early days, but it looks like it could be a formula for success.